No tricks, only treats!
It feels good to hit the middle of term! With FASE's Fall Reading week (November 08 - 12, 2021) just around the corner, and not to jinx it, but it really does seem like strides are being hit (and I mean that literally as well as figuratively - see our update on UofT's Step Challenge below). With the return to on-campus teaching and learning, the ETO has seen a decrease in the number of support requests for the first time in almost two years. This shift in focus allows us to really focus on the content production projects currently in progress (like the ePump project).
Does this mean it is a good time to get rolling on that "edtechy" project you've been mulling over? Yes! (Trick question - wait, there was a trick! - because the answer is always yes; we're here to help!). We'd love to talk to you and help you put your ideas into action (wow, a throwback to the 2015 EdTech Workshop!).
Speaking of conferences, treat yourself and register (free!) for eCampus Ontario's TESS 2021: Co-creating the Future. The education technology-focused conference features flexible virtual half-day sessions on November 15-16 and November 18-19. On the event website, the organizing team shares a bit of background on the theme, writing "Last year’s TESS theme of Humanizing Learning reflected our early experience of the pandemic’s impact on teaching and learning. We now emerge into a “new normal”, shifting from emergency remote education to a pedagogy that is digital by design – delivering high-quality online and hybrid programming at scale." The sessions will focus on Community, Belonging, Inclusion & Anti-Racism as well as hybrid futures. Register now!
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Nice to meet you, Sandra!
Sandra Duong joins the EdTech Office (ETO) as our new Educational Technologist. Joining our Quercus and Academic Toolbox support team, Sandra will be your first point of contact when you reach out to us (fase.edtech@utoronto.ca). Sandra would love to help you maximize your use of Quercus; ask her your questions! Read the rest of Sandra's welcome blog!
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We're always trying to think of ways to simplify and jumpstart your content creation process - recording instructional videos is no joke! Inga has started to collect our key recommendations into one-pager tip sheets. We're happy to have published our first ETO Tip Sheet, covering key tips for creating instructional videos (specifically when you plan to self-record yourself on camera). In development is a Tip Sheet for self-capturing your screen (which will be featured in the November newsletter).
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Low effort, big impact tip
Do you use MS Teams Video to present PowerPoint content? If you haven't experimented with the enhanced PowerPoint Live presenter tool, highly recommend!
With PowerPoint Live, you have full control over your content. The view you see as the presenter is yours only – review notes, engage in chats, and see your audience – all in one panel view. This private view allows the presenter to see everything in one place while the audience sees only the active slide. For example, view a slide, and next to it your slide notes—so your talking points are never far away. Using the thumbnail strip, you can see what slides are coming next and jump to one. The Grid view enables you to easily find your place in a large presentation.
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Are you a staff member who is interested in connecting with other educational media makers and designer colleagues across U of T? M.A.D.E. (Media And Design in Education) is a newly formed Microsoft Team that brings together U of T staff members that work or have an interest in the educational media and design space. If you're creating instructional content, this group is for you!
Spearheaded by the EdTech Office, our goal is to bring colleagues together to share ideas, resources, discover new ways to engage an audience, and troubleshoot common challenges when creating content (video, audio, web, interactive) for academic purposes.
If you're interested in joining the conversation, please fill out the request to Join M.A.D.E. form and you'll be added as soon as possible. Can't wait to see you there! |
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Data-Driven Design: Quercus Analytics 2021-2022
If you've ever wondered how you could make use of your Quercus data to help support improvements to your teaching, you may be interested in a new opportunity, supported by the Vice-Provost Innovations in Undergraduate Education as part of a new program of Learning Analytics initiatives.
Instructors may apply for participation in a peer-based network exploring Quercus learner data to enhance instruction and learning experience. The network will support course re/design informed by data analysis with support from a facilitation team. For more information, see Data-Driven Design Quercus Analytics - 2021-22. For last year's projects, see the previous projects from 10 instructors from various divisions and departments.
The deadline for applications for this program is Nov. 8, 2021 at 11:59 pm.
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 Weekly Quercus Update
By Anna | October 21, 2021
Canvas updates, This Week's Faculty Question: I accidentally deleted most of my previous course announcements. Is there a way I can restore those announcements so that students can access them again? |
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 Nice to meet you, Sandra!
By Alli | October 18, 2021
Sandra Duong joins the EdTech Office (ETO) as our new Educational Technologist. At the ETO, Sandra will be our first point of contact when you contact us. |
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 Weekly Quercus Update
By Anna | October 07, 2021
This week: Importing SCORM packages into Quercus (known issue resolved), This Week's Faculty Question: How can I export a roster of the student email addresses? |
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 Weekly Quercus Update
By Anna | September 23, 2021
This week: Plagiarism Detection Tool (Ouriginal) known issues, This Week's Faculty Question: Is there an alternative to the UT Advanced Group Tool for getting a list of emails for the students in my course? |
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 Introducing M.A.D.E for UofT
By Inga | September 22, 2021
Join this new network that connects educational media makers and designers across U of T. Our first session is in November; sign up now! |
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From Around UofT and beyond
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EdTech Sandbox Platforms from eCampusOntario (Digital Learning Innovation, UofT) | As part of their new Virtual Learning Strategy, eCampusOntario is facilitating access to new platforms and tools for use in post-secondary courses through a “Sandbox” program. The University of Toronto successfully applied for licences for three tools that have been identified by instructors as having potential to enhance student learning.
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Unpacking Privilege in Pandemic Pedagogy: Social Media Debates on Power Dynamics of Online Education (Journal of Communication Pedagogy) | As one of the world’s major social media hubs dedicated to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Facebook mega-group Pandemic Pedagogy provides a panoramic perspective of the key concerns educators and students face amid a public health crisis that forces a redefinition of what constitutes effective education.
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Global Higher Education: New Pedagogies, New Credentials (Higher Education Strategy Associates) | The experience of learning online during COVID has divided both learners and instructors. A clear majority have a healthy dislike for it, and a few loath it. But a significant minority enjoyed the experiment. For students who never liked going to campus anyway, it was a revelation that attending class could be so easy. And for some instructors, the online format permitted new pedagogical experiments.
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This week's top EdTech questions
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How do I set up at home to record myself on camera (without hundreds of dollars and hundreds of hours)? We've created a one-pager tip sheet that covers our key recommendations for filming/self-capturing remotely. See the tips on self-recording instructional videos on camera.
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Where can I get in-classroom technology support? The Office of Learning Space Management (LSM) provides extended support for teaching activity in LSM-managed rooms (see if you're teaching in an LSM room using the LSM Instructor Lookup). While the EdTech Office can provide advice and consultation regarding in-class technology, for technical support, please contact LSM.
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How does Articulate Rise 360 work? This guide provides an overview of how the module builder Articulate Rise 360 works and is intended as a high-level conceptual introduction to the Rise interface. If you've never used Rise before, this is a good place to start, to get a feel for how the tool works (and how you'll structure your content). For a more in-depth "how-to" tutorial, please see Getting Started with Rise 360. This guide is intended as a primer; if you are working with the ETO on a content production project, we will review this as part of your project. If you're interested in starting new project (exciting!), please contact us at fase.edtech@utoronto.ca.
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Visit the ETO's EdTech Events calendar for upcoming events related to teaching and education technology sessions, conferences, and deadlines. |
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How can the EdTech Office help?
Check out our service catalogue to get started:
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Book a consultation - We're happy to meet with you to discuss any element of your course (related to technology, of course!). We can help with your Quercus course, planning your online assessments, setting up your home recording station and more!
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Request a new Quercus course - We can create courses for both academic and administrative purposes (though you might also consider a Microsoft Team). If you're running a program, committee, group (especially one that has students), this might be a great hub for your work.
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Request guest Quercus Accounts - These can be used to provide access to external guests or to be used in testing.
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Participate in the Remote Editing Process - We've designed a remote editing process that begins with support as you to record your own content (from wherever) and ends with the Education Technology Office to provide editing services and posting to your Quercus course. This is ideal for trimming and cutting webinar recordings. Due to demand, we've decided to continue this service as a regular offering from the ETO.
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Looking for 1-1 support? We're happy to schedule individual (or teaching team) consultation(s) to review your course and current stage of design. You can also email us to get started! |
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